Cementing packer



Sept. 19, 1939. J. GUEST CEMENTING PACKER Filed April 13, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. John GUeS i' V. E N T. T.. MA Y B Sept. 19,1939. 1, GUEST 2,173,201

CEMENTING PACKER A TTURNEY Sept. 19, 1939. J. GUEST GEMENTING PACKERFiled April 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheetl 3 Guest.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY John BY wm Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICECEMENTING PACKER This invention ularly to packers curing the same otherstructure to example. where the cement slurry forcing John Guest, burtonOil Okla.

Duncan, Okla., assignor to Halli- Well Cementing Company, Duncan,

Application April 13, 1937, Serial No. 138,574

8 Claims.

relates to apparatus adapted and means for removably seto the casing ofa well. It is often desirable to fix and seal a valve or the casing ofan oil well. For well is to be cemented by down into the well throughtubing and into the formation of the well under high pressure, it

is desirable to provide means at the bottom of the tubing which can befixed to the casing and prevent the pressure on the cement from forcingis also desirable in the tubing upwardly. It such a case to provide apacker or other sealing means around the tubing so as to prevent thepassage of slurry upwardly between the tubing and the casing.

It is one object of the present invention to devise novel means fortemporarily setting a packer on tubing in a well and to provide meansfor removing the same from the well.

It is another object to provide means for securing tubing to providemeans for the casing in an oil well and to removing the same therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to devise means for retainingcement or other fluid in place in a well and to so construct and arrangethe same that the retaining means can be readily removed from the itspurpose.

well after it has accomplished It is another object of the invention todevise a packer assembly particularly adapted for squeeze jobs cementingwhere the well.

of well cementing or other types of tubing is used and in which the hashardened, is utilized the packer assembly from Other objects andadvantages reside in certain novel features of the arrangement andmethod,

as will be more apparent from the following de- 4 scription taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the casing of an oilwell, together with a crosssectionai showing of the upper portionv ofapparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-Sectional view of the casing of an oilwell, together with a crosssectional showing apparatus shown beingcontiguous;

of the lower portion of the in Figure 1, Figures 1 and 2 Figure 3 is avertical cross-sectional view of apparatus similar to that shown inFigure 1 but illustrating a second embodimentof the invention;V

Figure 4 is a. vertical cross-sectional view of the lower portion of theapparatus of Figure 3, Figures 3 and 4 being contiguous; and 5 Figures 5to 10, inclusivel are diagrammatic illustrations showing the relativepositions of the parts of the embodiment of the invention shown inFigures 3 and 4 during the setting of the apparatus in the well, thecementing of the well, the washing out of the well above the packer andthe final removal of the apparatus from the well. f l

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to the embodiment shownin Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the casing of an oil well isthere i1- lustrated at II. Tubing or drill pipe, to be used in acementing operation inthe well, is shown at I2 and extends down into thewell to the point where it is desired to secure and seal the same to thecasing. Only the lower end of the tubing is shown, itbeing understoodthat the same extends to the surface. The lower end of the tubing I2carries an enlargement or collar I3, which serves as a clutch member, aswill presently be described. To the inside of this collar, a mandrel ortubular section I4 is secured.

As shown in Figure 2, the lower end of the mandrel I4 has a double valvestructure I5 integral therewith. The valve structure has a cylindricalupper portion screw-threaded to the lower end of the mandrel Il and aslotted depending hollow extension I6 which has two valve parts thereondesignated I1 and I'Ia. A valve seat member I8 is mounted within theapparatus, surrounding the extension 16 to provide a seal with the valveI1 during certain phases of the operation of the apparatus and with thevalve Ila during other phases of the operation.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that the lower end of thecollar I3 has a number of depending vclutch teeth or jaws I9 thereon.When in the position shown in Figure 1, these jaws are adapted to engageand clutch similar jaws on a ring 20 normally located just beneath 45the collar I3 but not connected thereto. The ring 20 has a dependingsleeve 2I integral therewith which extendsv downwardly within the tooland terminates in a threaded portion 22, as shown in Figure 2. The valveseat member I8 is integral with this sleeve 2|. Above the valve seatmember I8. a number of ports 2Ia are provided in the sleeve 2l, for usein washing out the apparatus after a cementing operation. The sleeve 552| also has ports 2| b below the valve seat member I8, in the threadedportion 22 thereof.

'Ihe lower shoe 23 oi the packer is screw threaded upon the portion 22of the sleeve 2|. It is so constructed as to support the packer 24 whichis made of rubber or other suitable packing material.l The lower shoe 23also carries what is called a back pressure valve 25, this valve beingnormally held close by means of the spring 26. Also integral with thelower shoe 23 is an upwardly extending packer retaining sleeve 21 whichis connected by spline 28 to the upper shoe 29 of the packer. The shoes23 and 29 can thus be moved vertically relative to one another but areso connected that they cannot rotate one relative to the other.

A number of steel slips 30, of usual construction, are connected to theupper shoe 29. The connecting means for this purpose is preferably adovetail so as to allow the slips 30 to move in and out radially on theupper shoe 29. The inner faces of the slips 30 are cut at an angle andare also dovetailed to a cone or wedge 3|. This wedge is screw threadedupon an actuating member 32 which extends upwardly from the wedge 3|,around the collar I3 to a point where it is provided with a ange 33resting upon a coiled spring 34, the lower end of which seats upon thecollar I3. The collar I3 and member 32 are provided with abuttingshoulders. The actuating member 32 is also supplied with clutching jawsor teeth 35 adapted to cooperate during certain phases of the operationof the tool with Similar jaws 36 in the top of the collar I3.

Beneath the collar I3 the actuating member 32 is provided with ashoulder for supporting suitable bearings 31 upon which the collar 20and hence the sleeve 2| and the lower shoe 23 ride.

To prevent the packer and shoes from rotating during the setting of thetool, drag springs 38 are preferably provided, and these may beconnected to the upper shoe 29 and partially embedded in or associatedwith the packer 24 as illustrated.

The parts described above, except for the packer, may be made of steel.For ease of assembly certain of the parts may contain more screwthreaded joints than illustrated, but for clarity these joints have notall been shown.

The apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 is operated as follows: a

With the parts in the positions shown in Figures l and 2, the assemblyis lowered into the well tothe desired point. In lowering the apparatus,to insure equalization of fluid pressure inside and outside the tubing,the ports 2 Ib are provided. To set the packer and slips the tubing ordrill stem I2 is then simply rotated to the right. The spring 34,lifting on the member 32,V causes the jaws I9 of the collar I3 to remainin clutching engagement with the ring 20 at` this time. Thus, the sleeve2| is rotated and causes the lower shoe 23 to move upwardly thereon, thelower shoe 23 being prevented from rotating by means of the drag springs38.

As the shoe 23 moves upward, the ports 2lb are closed and remain closeduntil the apparatus is removed from the well.

Upward movement of the lower shoe 23 causes the packer, the upper shoe29 and the slips 39 to move upwardly. As the slips move upwardly theyalso move outwardly radially and engage the casing. the wedge 3| beingheld against upward movement at this time. inasmuch as any force exertedthereon is transmitted to the collar I3 through the member 32. As theslips engage the casing further upward movement of the shoe 23 causesthe packer to engage the casing and efl'ect a seal.

If the apparatus is to be used in the cementing of a well, the slurrymay now be forced downwardly through the tubing I2. The slurry will flowthrough the mandrel I4, the Valve member I1, which will then bein theposition shown in Figure 2, and downward through the valve 25, thelatter being forced open due to the pressure exerted upon the slurry bythe pumps at the surface.

After a suilicient quantity of cement has been pumped through theapparatus the pressure will be relieved and the valve 25 will close. Thepressure must be held upon the cement until it hardens, but it is notnecessary to hold this pressure by uid or pump pressure inasmuch as theslips and packer are now set on thecasing.

Since some cement may still be left in the apparatus above the valve 25,it is desirable to provide means for washing out above this point. Toaccomplish this, the tubing I2 is raised slightly, causing the valve I1to seat upon the lower valve seat of the member I 3 and likewisepermitting the flow of -iluid frominside the mandrel I4 outwardlythrough the ports 2Ia in the sleeve 2|. Water or other washing fluid maythen be circulated downwardly through the tubing I2 and will flowoutwardly through the ports 2Ia, upwardly between the sleeve 2| and apacker retaining member 21, outwardly between the slip segments 30 andthen upwardly between the tubing I2 of the casing. During this washingout operation the valve I 1 will act as an added safety factor inpreventing any cement which may leak through the valve 25 from flowingupwardly around the slips 30 and preventing their subsequent removali'rom the well.

'40 The washing out should preferably be continued at least untilinitial set.

After the cement has hardened, the entire cement retaining assembly maybe removed from the well as follows:

In raising the tubing I2 to the washout position previously mentioned itwill be noticed that the clutch members I9 will be disengaged from thering 20 and thatthe clutch jaws 35 and 3S will. be brought intoengagement.' the'spring 34 being compressed at this time. If now thetubing I2 is again rotated to the right, the actuating member 32 will berotated. If tension is placed in the tubing I2 at the same time, thecone or wedge 3| will be pulled upwardly. The slips 3U will not moveupwardly at this time but will be pulled radially inward due to thedovetail connection between the wedge 3| and the slips. The slips willthus be disengaged from the casing.

Further upward pull upon the tubing I2 will raise the upper shoe 29,this pulling force being transmitted through the collar I3.' theactuating member 32, the cone 3|, the slips 30 and the dovetailconnection between the slips 30 and the shoe 29. To accomplish this, thedovetail connection between the cone 3| and the slips 30 is providedwith stops to limit the amount of vertical relative movement between thewedge and the cement has taken its -the slips. As the upper shoe 29 israised it will It will be seen that in the arrangement in Figures land 2the wedge 3| which holds the slips in place when they are set againstthe casing is pulled upwardly by tension in the drill pipe or tubing torelease the slips. It is advantageous in some instances to jack or pr'ythe wedge up to 4 release the slips and since the cement beneath thelower shoe will normally have become solid when this operation isperformed, the hardened cement may be used as an abutment to accomplishthis. In Figures 3 and 4 an embodiment of the invention working on thisprinciple is disclosed. y

In Figures 3 and 4 the parts which correspond to those of Figures l and2 have been similarly designated. As in Figures 1 and 2, the arrangementincludes tubing or drill pipe I2 having a collar I3 thereon and amandrel I4. As shown in Figure 4 the lower end of the mandrel is notprovided with a valve arrangement but has suitable packing material 39on the outside thereof, the packing being held in place by means of agland nut 40. As in Figure 1, the collar I3 has clutch jaws I9 on itslower surface which engage similar jaws in a ring with which a, sleeve2| is integral, the sleeve 2| extending down and screw threading intothe lower packer shoe 23.

'I'he mandrel I4 and sleeve 2|, as best shown in Figure 4, function topermit the pressure to be equalized inside and outside the tubing I2while the apparatus is being lowered into the hole. In this arrangement,with the parts in the positions shown in Figures 3 and 4, iluid may iiowbetween the slips downwardly on the outside of the sleeve 2|, thencethrough4 ports 2Ia and downwardly between the sleeve 2| and the mandrelI4. The shape of the lower portions of the sleeve 2| and the mandrel Ilare such that the packing material 39 does not eii'ect a sealtherebetween at this time. During certain .phases of the operation theapparatus may be washed out by causing the fluid to flow in a reversedirection to that just described upon the mandrel being lowered withrespect to the sleeve 2| to the relative positions shown in Figure 4. v

The main difference between the apparatus of Figures 3 and 4 and that ofFigures 1 and 2 results from the fact that in addition to the bearing 31between the ring 20 and the lower portion of the actuating member 32there is another bearing 4| between the lower end of the member 32 andan outwardly extending flange 42 on the sleeve 2|. With thisconstruction the member 2| vcan at no time be moved vertically withrespect to the member 32.

The -operation of the tool of Figures 3 and 4 will be best understood byreferring to the diagrams of Figures 5 to 10, inclusive, in which the.relative positions of the parts during a typical cementing operationare shown in sequence. A description of these diagrams will also serveto clarify the operation of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 whichfunctions the same except for the differences which are apparent oralready mentioned.

When the apparatus of Figures 3 and 4 is lowered to the desired depthwithin the well, the parts are in the relative positions shown in Figure5. Upon rotation of the tubing I2 to the right (the clutch jaws I9 beingengaged at that time) the sleeve 2| is rotated to the right. This causesthe parts to take the relative position shown in Figure 6.

It will be noted that in Figure 6 the lower shoe 23 has moved upwardly,the packer and slips' have been caused to set against the casing, bothslips and packer having been forced upwardly while the wedge 3| has beenheld stationary by the member 32 which is coupled through the bearings31 and 4I directly to the sleeve 2|. In other words, the packer andslips are set, in eect, by merely screwing a nut on the bottom ofthesleeve 2| while the upper end of the sleeve 2| prevents upwardmovement of the wedge 3|.

After setting the packer and slips, the tubing is raised to close thewashout ports 2 Ia.

Cement slurry is now pumped through the tool as diagrammatieallyillustrated in Figure 7. The cement cannot ilow upwardly between thetubing and the casing because of the packer 2| and any excess ofpressure below the tool over that above the tool will not tend to causethe tubing to move upwardly because of the fact that the slips areengaging the casing. After the desired amount of cement has been pumpedthrough the tool, the tubing may be lowered again back to the' positionshown in Figure 6 so that the washing out operation may be carried on.As soon as the pressure von the slurry isv relieved the valve will closeand water may be pumped down around the lower end of the mandrel I4 outthrough the ports 2Ia and around and between the slips. This washingoperation may continue until the cement beneath the tool has becomehardened. No matter how carefully the apparatus is washed, there isalways some danger that cement will leak around the packer or throughthe valve and harden around the slips and upper shoe making it extremelydifilcult to move them. The present invention is particularly designedto meet this problem. A

To accomplish this the slips are 'ilrst released or broken loose fromthe casing and reset a few inches higher than they had been setinitially. This is accomplished by lifting up on the tubing and rotatingthe same to the lright, the clutch jaws and y36 being then engaged. Asthe actuating member 32 is rotated to the right, the wedge 3| is priedupwardly much the same as the operation of an ordinary screw jack. Asshown in Figure 8, the lower shoe 23 will then be resting upon the solidcement and this will prevent any downward movement of the member 32since the member 32 is supported through bearing 4I on the. rirg 20 andsleeve 2| connected to the shoe 23. Thus, the wedge 3| will be raisedslightly to the position shown in Figure 8 and the slips will be raiseda slight distance. At the same time the upper shoe will be movedand thepacker will be partially disengaged from the casing. Thus the breakingloose oi the slips, which is often a diiilcult task, is greatlysimplified. Tremendous upward pressure may be exerted upon the wedge 3|by rotation of the member 32 without appreciable tension in the tubing,although in general, it is contemplated that the tubing will be pullingon the wedge at the same time.

It often happens that as the cement hardens it firmly adheres to thelower shoe 2|, and the next operation of the tool is designed to releasethe shoe. As just mentioned, the slips have been broken loose from thecasing and raised slightly to the position in Figure 8. If now thetubing is again lowered, causing the clutch jaws I9 to engage, and thetubing is again rotated to the right, the slips will again engage thecasing but at a slightly higher position than illustrated in Figures 6and '1. The lower shoe 23 may then be pried loose. To aid inaccomplishing this certain oi.' the teeth on the slips are directeddownwardly. When reset, the slips and` wedge 3| thus constitute anabutment for preventing downward movement of the member 32 and sleeve 2|at this time. The parts thus take the position shown in Figure 9 inwhich it will be noticed that the shoe 2| has geen broken loose from thecement. l

Just prior to removal of the toolfrom the well, the parts thus take theposition of Figure 10. The slips, packer and shoes having been movedslightly after the cement has hardened, it is comparatively easy toremove them from the well. To cause the parts to take the position shownin Figure 10, tension is taken in the drill stem or tubing and it isrotated to the right, thus causing the member 32 to again pull the wedge3| upwardly, again releasing the slips and pulling the packer back toits extended position as shown in Figure 5, so that the entire apparatusis again of suillciently small diameter to enable it to pass upwardlythrough the casing.

It is to be noted that in all of Figures 5 to 10, the members 32 and 2|have not moved vertically either up or down. 'I'he other parts of theapparatus are mov'ed in the sequence described to effect the desiredresults.

While only two embodiments of the invention have been described indetail .herein and while the invention has been particularly describedin connection with a cementing operation, it is believed that theapparatus is capable ot wide application and that various changes may bemade in the construction and operation without departing from the spiritof the the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

l. An arrangement for removably securing and se ling a device to thecasing of an oil well or the like comprising slips, a packer, rotarymechanism for setting and releasing the slips and packer, and a two-wayclutch associated with said rotary mechanism for actuating the same.

2. An arrangement for temporarily sealing a invention and device to thecasing of an oil well or the like comprising a packer, an upper shoe, alower shoe, meansv for moving the shoes toward each other to set thepacker, meansi'or moving the shoes away from each other to release thepacker and a two-way clutch for operating said setting and releasingmeans.

3. An arrangement for temporarily sealing the lower portion of tubing orpipe to the casing of an oil well or the like comprising a packer,mechanism for setting the packer, a clutch associated with said settingmechanism and the tubing for actuating the setting mechanism upon righthand rotation of the tubing, mechanism for releasing the packer and aclutch` associated with said releasing mechanism and the tubing foractuating the releasing mechanism upon right hand rotation of thetubing. 4. An arrangement for temporarily securing and sealing apparatuswithin the casing in an oil well or the like comprising a packer andslips,

a wedge associated with the' slips for moving the same out and inradially, screw threaded means controllable from the surface oi'- thewell for causing the setting of the packer in the casing and i'orcausing movement of the slips on the wedge to set the slips in thecasing and other screw threaded means controllable from the surface ofthe well for causing the disengagement of the packer from the casing andfor causing movement of the wedge to disengage the slips from thecasing.

5. An arrangement for temporarily holding liquid under high pressurefrom moving upwardly in the casing of an oil well or the like andincluding a packer having an upper shoe and a lower shoe, slipsconnected to the upper shoe for engaging the casing and for preventingupward movement thereof as the result of the pressure, a wedge forholding the slips, rotary means for causing the packer and slips toengage or disengage the casing, said rotary means including screwthreaded mechanisms connecting said shoe and wedge and a two-way clutchadapted to selectively engage said mechanisms and operate the sameeither to shorten or lengthen the distance between `the lower shoe ofthe packer and the wedge to thereby cause the packer and slips to eitherengage or disengage the casing, as desired, and means operable from thesurface of the well for actuating said rotary means.

6. An arrangement adapted for use in cementing an oil well or the likeincluding slips, means for setting the slips. means for conveying liquidcement to a point below the slips, means for holding the cement in placeuntil it hardens and means adapted to use the hardened cement as anabutment for prying the slips loose `from their set position.

7. An arrangement adapted for use in cementing an oil well or the likeincluding a valve, a packer for sealing the valve to the casing of thewell, slips for preventing upward movement of the valve and packerduring the cementing operation, means for supplying liquid cementthrough the valve to a point in the casing beneath the valve while thepacker and slips engage the casing whereupon the valve may close to holdthe cement in place until it hardens and means adapted to use thehardened cement as an abutment for causing the slips and packer todisengage the casing said last mentioned means including a shoe adaptedto rest upon the hardened cement and mechanism cooperating with theslips, packer and shoe to exert force upon the packer and slips to movethe same with respect to the shoe when desired.

8. The method of cementing an oil well or the like which includes thesteps of securing a cement retaining device to the casing of the well,supplying liquid cement to the well at a point beneath the retainingdevice, allowing the cement to harden and using the hardened cement asan abutment in supplying force to the retaining device to cause the sameto disengage the casing.

JOHN GUEST.

